Karnataka: Law soon to regulate cable TV networks

Members urged the government to regulate cable operators, since there is no law to prevent them from levying exorbitant charges.

Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar informed the Council on Monday that the annual turnover of cable networks runs into Rs 4000-5000 crore but the state is not getting a single rupee from them in the form of taxes which has to be set right by introducing a legislation.

Bengaluru: The state government is contemplating bringing a legislation to regulate cable TV networks, which are allegedly charging customers an exorbitant fee.

Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar informed the Council on Monday that the annual turnover of cable networks runs into Rs 4000-5000 crore but the state is not getting a single rupee from them in the form of taxes which has to be set right by introducing a legislation.

Members urged the government to regulate cable operators, since there is no law to prevent them from levying exorbitant charges. Dr Parameshwar said that the state has no power to regulate the operators since the Centre is empowered to fix cable TV fee under the Television Network Rules 1995. The state only has powers to constitute state and district level committees to supervise the cable networks but has no power to fix fee, Dr Parameshwar said, adding that necessary legislation will be introduced in this regard.

Action against Pvt hospital
Minister for Health K.R. Ramesh Kumar informed the Council that if private hospitals refused to offer services to patients under government health insurances schemes, such hospital services will be terminated with immediate effect. Replying to Congress member Srinivasa Mane, Mr Kumar said under Suvarna Arogya Surkasha Trust, private hospitals have been offering services to patients for three years from 2014, the bill charged by hospitals is Rs 661 crore of which the government has to pay only Rs 41.49 crore as arrears. But a few hospitals have discontinued services to patients even after requests by the government and so it has been decided to cancel the services of these hospitals, he said.